Flame arrester



y ,1953 w. A. L EBUS j 2,639,705

FLAME ARRESTER Filed Oct. 25, 1947 3 Sheets-She et 1 Q viz-a? 222 f y 26, 1953 w. A. LEBUS 2,639,705

. FLAME ARRESTER Filed Oct. 25, 1947 s Shets-Sheet s Patented May 26, 1953 FLAME ARRESTER William A. Lebus, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Protectoseal Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 25, 1947, Serial No. 782,175

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to flame arresters, and one of its objects is to provide a novel flame arrester for flame observation.

Observation of a gaseous flame is required in certain industries that make gas for their own use or for outside distribution, to determine if the gas being generated is of a predetermined given quality.

Sometimes owing to failure of certain apparatus to function properly the flame becomes extinguished but the gas continues to escape through the burner with the result that a considerable quantity of gas may collect in an enclosure so that if it is ignited, an explosion takes place with the likelihood of doing considerable damage,

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of an enclosure, containing the burner and having flame arresting means through which the products of combustion may escape, but which will prevent the escape of flames.

Another object is the provision of adjustable air inlet means for the burner and also constructed and arranged to permit the escape of the products of combustion in case of an explosion in the enclosure, but will efliciently prevent the flames from escaping.

Another object is to provide automatic, as well as, manually controlled means to ignite the gas issuing from the burner in the event that the flame has become extinguished.

With these and other objects and advantages in View, this invention consists in the several novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawin'gs accompanying this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a View partly in front elevation and partly in central vertical section of a flame'arrester embodying a simple form of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in end elevation and partly in vertical cross section taken on the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

' Fig, 3 is a view of the flame arrester looking from below and partly broken out to show internal construction;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a flame deflector which comprises part of the burner of the device; and

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the device and an electric circuit for creating an electric spark in the device. I l

Referring to said drawings, the reference character 6 designates generally a housing in which is contained a combustion chamber 1 comprising a bottom wall 8, a dome-shaped top wall 9, side walls I0 and end walls I 1 connecting the top wall 9 and bottom wall 8. Extending out from the top wall and end walls are heat dissipating fins l2. I

The side walls It are formed at their upper ends with openings l3 which connect the combustion chamber with the flame arresting means designated generally by M; the side walls I!) are also formed with flanges l8that surround the openings [3.

The flame arresting means may take various forms. As shown each of the flame arresting means It comprises a multiplicity of coaxial an nular or ring-like members [6 spaced apart by thin spacers I1. Experience has proved that spacers of approximately .005 of an inch in thickness give excellent results, but I do not wish to limit myself to this precise thickness. The an: nular members and spacers are secured to the flanges l8 of the housing by threaded studs l9, threadedly secured in the flanges l8 of the 110115". ing by threaded studs l9, threadedly secured in the flanges l8 with nuts 20 upon their outer ends that bear against discs or other closures 2| that are placed at the ends of the flame arresting means and close the outer ends of the openings or passages 15 therein.

In one end wall ll of the housing is a viewing opening 22, which is covered by a window com-' prising fire resisting glass or other transparent plate 23 held in place by a ring 24 fastened to the wall II by bolts or screws 25. Through the window an attendant is able to see the flame in the combustion chamber issuing from the burner 26.

The burner is shown as comprising a tube 21, one end of which is screwed into a flanged fitting 28, bolted or otherwise secured to a flange 29 formed on the lower end of a tubular wall 30 that extends down from the bottom wall 8 of the housing andprovides an air inlet passage 3| around the burner tube 21.

The burner tube projects into the combustion chamber and has a flame deflector disc 32 at its upper end and spaced slightly away fromthe upper edge of the burner tube. This arrangement causes the flame issuing from the burner to pass around the side edge of the deflector disc. The deflector disc is secured in the upper end of the burner tube by a Winged head 33 formed on one end of a stem 34 which may be formed as a part of and projects down from the deflector disc. The winged head flts in an enlarged bore in the burner tube and seats on the shoulder 35 formed at the lower end of the enlarged bore. Several obliquely extending holes 21a are formed in the wall of the burner tube and admit air to the burner tube, thus providing apremixin of gas and air in the burner. The spaces between the wings of the head 33 form passages for the passage of gas and air into the combustion chamher from a pipe which is screwed into the lower end of the flanged boss 28 and conveys the gas to the burner.

An air inlet passage 35, formed by an annular wall 31 which projects from the wall 30,-connects the air passage 3| with the outside air. The wall 31 terminates in a flange 38 which joins oneof the side walls id of the housing (see Fig. l) and to said flange 38 is rigidly secured a flame arrest ing means designated generally by 39. The flame arresting means tilis constructed substantially like the flame arresting means is and as shown comprises spaced annular or ring-like members Mi, spaced apart by thin spacers ll and secured to the flange 38' by threaded studs t2 that are thread'edly engaged in the flange and have nuts flontheir outer ends that bear against a closure 44 which engages the outermost washers AI and closes the outer end of the opening or passage 45 formed'bythe annular or ring-like members 60. 3 The openings or passages 36, 45 are of the same diameter and are aligned, and air is admitted to the air passage 35- through those spaces between the annular members which are in open communication with the air passage 36.

For regulating the amount of air admitted to the burner, an adjustable valve $6 is provided in the opening or passage 55, which valve is carried by a stem ll, threadedly mounted in an internally threaded hollow boss 48 formed on the outer side of the closure M. A lock nut 49 threadedly mounted on the stem ll and adapted to bear against the end face of the boss provides means to lockthe stem and therewith the valve in any adjusted position. A rod 59 secured on the end of thestem provides a handle by which the stem maybe manipulated. By adjusting thevalvellS forwards or backwards in the opening or passage 45, a greater or lesser amount of air is admitted to theburner.

A pilot light tip 52 welded or otherwise secured to-a threaded nipple 53, in a wall of the housing, has a jet nozzle 54 on its inner end through which a small amount of gas is discharged .into the combustion chamber directly above the burner, providing a pilot light for ignitingany unconsumed gas that may be discharged bythe burner into thecombustion chamber.

A gas pipe 55 connected with a source of gas supply conducts gas to the pilot light tip.

Anelectric sparkproducing means is also providedfor igniting. gas in the combustion chamher: in the event the pilot light has gone out. As shown, said sparkproducing means comprises a pairv of electrodes 56which project through: one wall III of the housing, the wires or rods 51. of the electrodes project into the combustion chamber with. their ends bent toward each other. A flanged collar 58, bolted to the wall I surrounds theelectrodes andis provided with bolts 59 that maybe screwed down upon the electrodes to se' cure them in place. Electrical conductors 50 (see Fig. 5) connected to a suitable source of electric supply run to .a. high voltage transformer. El. and fromthe transformer, electrical conductors 62 4 run to the electrodes 56. An electric explosionproof momentary contact electric switch 63 is interposed in one of the electrical conductors 60,. which when momentarily closed completes the circuit to the electrodes and produces a spark in the combustion chamber igniting the gas therein. In operation, in the event that the flame issuing from the burner becomes extinguished for some reason or'other, such as stoppage of the gas supply, then when the gas is again turned on and assuming that the pilot light is on, the gas issuing fromthe burner will be ignited. If the pilot light has become extinguished, an attendant can close the switch 63 momentarily, thereby producing a spark in the combustion chamber and igniting the gas. In the event an explosion takes place in the housing, the flame arresting means will prevent any flames from escaping but permitting the products-of combustion to escape through the narrow slots between the annular members It of the flame arresting means it and through the narrow slots between the annular members All-of the flame arrestingmeans 39:

Insteadof using annular members in theflame arresting means, thinlflat strips spaced apart by spacersmay be. usedor blocks of sintered-metal may beused. Many other forms of flame: arrest ing means may also be employed.

While'the flame. arrester has been illustrated in connection with acalorimeter, it is; to be. Lin-'1 derstood that its use is notto be limited theree to, but it maybe used wherever a gas flame in an enclosure is to be observed.

Having thus described-my invention, it. is obe vious that various immaterial modiflcations may be made in the same without departing from the spirit oi my invention; hence, I do not-wishto limit myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new anddesire to secure by letters patent is:

l. Ina flame arrester'for flame observation, the combination of a housing having, a combuse' tion chamber therein provided with a glass covered viewing opening in one of its Wa1ls, an'djun-j restricted outlet openings in the walls of'the housing, agas burner-extending into said 011211511 ber, means for igniting gasiissuing fromjsaid burner, several flame arresting means, each hav-j ing a passage, closed at its outer end and open-' ing to one of said outlet openings in the walls of the housing, each flame arresting means having; spaced apart. annular members surrounding, the passage and providing narrow passages. for the escape of products of combustion from theco'm-Q bustion chamber. 2

2. In a'flamearrester for flame observation, thecombinationfof a housing having a'combus tion chamber therein providedwithla. glasscove. eredviewing opening inone of itswalls, and sev j eral unrestricted outlet openings in its wall, a' gas burner extending int o said chamber, means-tor igniting gas issuing fr omv said; burner, sev eral flame arresting means secured to wallsnof said housing and each. flame arresting means comprising aplurality of spaced apart annular members, with thin spacers therebetween, the annular members of each flame arresting means providing a passage-incommunication withv the openings in the wall of said combustion chamberyand a closure secured on the; outer end. of each flame arrestinam ansand los n t t df aid passage, the spaces between the;-annula members providing for the escape of products of combustion from the combustion chamber.

3. In a flame arrester, the combination of a housing having a combustion chamber therein, and an air inlet opening leading to said combustion chamber, a gas burner extending into said combustion chamber, means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, a flame arresting means secured to said housing and comprising spaced members with spacers therebetween, said spaced members provided with an axial passage in communication with said air inlet opening and providing slots leading away from said axial passage, a closure closing the outer end ofsaidaxial passage, a valve of the same diameter as the axial passage in the flame arresting means and means to adjust said valve along said passage, whereby to establish communication of a greater or lesser number of slots with the air inlet opening .to the combustion chamber, whereby to regulatethe volume of air admitted to the combustion chamber.

4. In a flame arrester, the combination of a housing having a combustion chamber therein, and an air inlet opening leading to said combustion chamber, a gas burner extending into said combustion chamber, means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, a flame arresting means secured to said housing over said air inlet opening and comprising spaced annular members with spacers therebetween, said spaced annular members providing an axial passage in communication with said air inlet opening and providing slots leading away from said axial passage, a closure closing the outer end of said axial passage, a valve of the same diameter as the axial passage in the flame arresting means and a stem threadedly mounted in said closure with said valve secured to the inner end of the stem, said stem and the valve thereon providing means to establish communication of a greater or lesser number of slots with the air inlet opening to the combustion chamber whereby to regulate the volume of air admitted to the combustion chamher.

5. In a flame arrester, the combination of a housing having a combustion chamber therein, and an air inlet opening leading to said combustion chamber, a gas burner extendin into said combustion chamber, means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, a flame arresting means disposed over said air inlet opening and comprising spaced annular members with wash ers therebetween, said spaced annular members providing an axial passage in communication with said air inlet opening and providing slots leading away from said axial passage, a closure closing the outer end of said axial passage, a valve of the same diameter as the axial passage in the flame arresting means and a stem threadedly mounted in said closure with said valve secured to the inner end of the stem, said stem and the valve thereon providing means to establish communication of a greater or lesser number of slots with the air inlet opening to the combustion chamber, whereby to regulate the volume of air admitted to the combustion chamber, studs secured in a wall of the housing and extending through said annular members and washers, and having nuts on their ends bearing against the closure.

6. In a flame arrester for flame observation, the combination of a housing having a com bustion chamber therein with an unrestricted outlet opening leading from said chamber, a gas burner extending into said chamber, means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, laterally arranged flame arresting means on opposite sides of the combustion chamber and including means on opposite sides in communication with said outlet opening of said combustion chamber, and heat dissipating means connected to the combustion chamber and arranged intermediate said flame arresting means.

7. In a flame arrester, the combination of a housing having a combustion chamber therein with unrestricted outlet openings in the wall thereof leadin from said chamber, a gas burner extending in said chamber, means for ignit ing gas issuing from said burner, and laterally arranged flame arresting means on opposite'sides of the combustion chamber and having passages in communication with said openings in the wall of said combustion chamber, said passages communicating with the outer air through narrow slots, and the outer end of said passages being closed.

8. In a flame arrester for flame observation, the combination of a housin having a combuse tion chamber therein with unrestricted outlet openings leading from said chamber, a gas burner extending into said chamber, manually controlled spark producing means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, and laterally arranged flame arresting means on opposite sides of the combustion chamber and having passages in communication with said outlet openings of said combustion chamber, said passages communicating with the outer air through narrow slots, and the outer ends of said passages being closed.

9. In a flame arrester for flame observation. the combination of a housing having a combustion chamber therein with several unrestricted openings in the wall thereof leading from said chamber, a gas burner extending into said chamber, means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, several flame arresting means, certain of said flame arresting means adapted for the discharge of the products of combustion, each having a" passage closed at its outer end and in communication with an opening in the wall of said combustion chamber, each flame arresting means having spaced apart annular members surrounding the passage and providing narrow passages for the escape of products of combustion from the combustion chamber, and another of said flame arresting means including valve means for adjustably controlling the amount of air supplied to the burner.

10. In a flame arrester for flame observation, the combination of a housing having a combustion chamber therein provided with a glass covered viewing opening in one of its walls, and outlet openings in the walls of the housing, a gas burner extending into said chamber, said housing also provided with an air inlet opening for the gas burner, means for igniting gas issuing from said burner, several flame arresting means disposed above said gas burner and operatively connected to said outlet openings, heat dissipating means connected to said chamber and positioned between certain of said flame arresting means and havin means on opposite sides connected to said outlet openings for laterally spacing said flame arresting means, and each flame arresting means comprising a plurality of spaced apart annular members, with thin spacers therebetween, the annular members of each flame arresting means providing a passage in communication with the combustion chamber, and

a closure on the outer end ofeach'. flame. arrestingmeans-a-nd: closing the-outer end of said-passage; the. spaces between the annular members. providing for the escape of products of' combustion; from the: combustion chamber; studs secured in said w'alls ofthe housing and extending. through said annular. members; and nuts onthe outer: ends of. said studsbearing againstsaid closure, and another of said flame.- arresting means. operatively connected; to said air inlet opening and comprising adjustable valve, means for adjustably controlling the. amount of air sugplied. to the burner.

11-. Inna flame arrester for flame observation, the combination of a housing. having a combust'ion, chamber therein provided with a glass. covcredv viewing opening in one of its walls, and said housing. also provided with an airl inietopen. ing in. communication with said chamber,. agas burnerextending. into said chamber, meansfor igniting gas. issuing from said burner, and several flame arresting means secured to said housing, some operatively connected to the combustion chamber. and one operatively connected: to said-airinlet openingeach flame arresting means comprising spacedrannular. memberswith spacers- WI'ELIAMA. LEBUS References G'ited in: the me of this patent.

TED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date;

13235 73853 Ballengerrua Aug. 21519117. L,399,903f Stevenson; -Dec-. 1 3, 1 92 1 1 ,979,933 Beddoes et. a1 .1- Nov. 6,; 19% 215856.43: Waceka May. 16-, 1-939 2',l'96;8 281' Hess Apr. 9 .,1940

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 7 I 2353;824- France Sept. 15,. 1 921 

